Patrick Driggett: From the Armed Forces to Video Game Producer

The Game Development grad is a producer at Ready at Dawn studios.

Game Development graduate Patrick Driggett

Patrick Driggett has just taken his first job in the gaming industry, as a producer at Ready at Dawn studios in Irvine, California. It’s a career move he’s been building towards for a number of years, and follows such personal and professional milestones as serving as an imagery intelligence analyst during Operation Iraqi Freedom, and over half a decade as a software engineer at a popular computer simulation company.

“I’ve had some amazing experiences, but there’s always been that thing in the back of my head telling me that I wanted to work on games,” he says. “Even while I was in the military I fell into a circle of friends that were all just gamers, where I would do my shift, then I’d get off and we’d all hang out together playing games like Everquest. It was around that time I’d start noticing ads for Full Sail.”

After finishing his service Patrick moved to Orlando to be close to his family, and began looking into our Game Development program. “I knew that a traditional school wasn’t for me because I’m a nose to the grindstone kind of person – if the pressure’s on then I’m happy,” he says. “Full Sail just seemed like a great fit, and it offered everything I could ever imagine wanting.”

Patrick had an easy time transitioning into the program following the structure and discipline of army life. He was used to long hours in front of the computer, and had a natural talent for taking leadership on group projects. That drive eventually carried over to his job search, and months before graduation he had already secured a position as junior software engineer at Engineering and Computer Simulations, a local leader in interactive software and tools.

“I was really excited when I learned about the simulation industry being so big in Orlando,” he says. “It was something that interested me because it was niche in between gaming and the military that I had come from. I thought it would be the perfect place for me right out of school, and while I was there I got to work on games, commercial projects and training for the National Guard Bureau, it was a real mixof everything.”

He would spend six-and-a-half years at the company, with promotions to senior software engineer and project manager, before deciding he “was ready to do other things.” During that time gaming was still one of his biggest passions, and on a tip from a friend he looked into a position with Ready at Dawn, creators of such critically acclaimed titles as Daxter and God of War: Ghosts of Sparta. As it seems to happen when he dedicates himself to something, Patrick would join the company shortly afterwards, starting the next chapter in a life that continues to challenge and inspire him in new ways.

“It all fell into place over a couple of months,” he says. “I did a Skype interview, they flew me out to meet them, and then I was hired. Being here has already been the most amazing few weeks of my professional life. I always worked hard, but now that I’m working on products that I’m this passionate about it’s very exhilarating. I’ve been telling my friends that I feel like I won the lottery.”